SHIMLA: A massive fire broke out late on Sunday night in Arki market in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, killing an 8-year-old girl from a migrant labour family from Bihar. At least eight people, including migrant labourers from Nepal, are feared trapped inside the damaged building. The fire started around 2:15 am in a residential building in the market area and quickly spread to nearby shops and adjoining structures. Local residents reported multiple LPG cylinder explosions during the blaze, which intensified the fire and caused extensive damage. Congress MLA from Arki, Sanjay Awasthy, visited the site on Monday morning to assess the situation and review ongoing rescue operations. “The fire broke out between 2:15 and 2:30 am. The exact cause is yet to be determined, but the damage has been extensive. Around 10 to 15 shops and houses have been affected and suffered heavy losses,” he said. The MLA added that the local administration and fire department responded promptly and managed to bring the fire under control. However, concerns remain as some people are feared trapped inside the damaged buildings. “It has been reported that a few individuals may still be inside. Families originally from Nepal were also residing in the old building, and their whereabouts are currently unknown,” he said. Awasthy further stated that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been alerted and is expected to join the rescue efforts soon. “We hope the number of casualties remains minimal. The government will provide full support to the affected families,” he added.
